Flying Independent aground at Cape Vincent 1963

[canaljim]

The rumor was the Army tanks came from Cleveland, not sure what type. I can't remember whether a lake pilot was on board. Today a Master can be his own lake pilot after 16 trips. Back then the master was the Lake pilot or the canal pilot would continue down the river. We used to go out on the pilot boat all the time with Dougan. The Horne's operate a ferry, the William Darrell, between Horne's Point on Wolfe Island, Ont and Cape Vincent, NY. Between riding the ferry and the pilot boat it was a great place to spend the summer, still is!

Jim

[BobG]

The tanks were probably M48A2/A3s or M60s, more likely the latter.

[tugboat1947]

Was wondering: Where were the tanks loaded? What type of tank and who built them? Apparently there was no pilot on board at the time wright or wrong? If so why order another t Was this an American flagged vessel?

[canaljim]

To add to my pictures in the news photo gallery section:
In July 1963, around midnight, the Flying Independent was downbound at Cape Vincent with a reported load of Army Tanks for Vietnam. She got too close to Horne's Point picking up a pilot, pilots at that time came from the Canadian side on Dougan's pilot boat #16. She ran aground on the end of Hinckley Flats Shoal. I was about 100 yards away watching and heard the pilot yelling as he climbed the ladder, "turn out, turn out" but it was too late. The Tug Graeme Stewart was first to arrive, later in the week assisted by Tugs Helen McAllister, Robinson Bay and Salvage Monarch. Some weight was shifted to starboard and the tugs finally got her off. Due to this grounding, in 1964 the Seaway put in buoy 242 at Horne's Point, (Pt. Alexandria).

Jim